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County Cemetery Committee Formation Moves to Legislature’s Rules Committee for Investigation of Options
Legislature contemplates subpoenaing tardy documents from County Executive
by Margaret Sternberg
The Health, Social, Educational & Environmental Committee again tackled the issue of whether to form a centralized “Cemetery Committee,” under whose aegis the approximately 90 cemeteries within the County would fall.
At its December 12, 2006 meeting, Committee Chairman Sam Oliverio said that Legislative Counsel Clement Van Ross informed him that the formation of such a committee might not be within the purview of the Legislature. Oliverio said that there existed “legal overpinnings [sic] to the issue that I don’t really understand,” adding that he wanted the issue moved to the Rules Committee meeting in January to fully investigate the issue.
Oliverio said that Van Ross’s opinion had been that it is the County Executive’s prerogative to create such a committee, although Oliverio said he wanted further study to ascertain whether the Legislature might also have the power to form the committee.
Legislator Vinny Tamagna opined that, under municipal law, cemeteries fall under town law and, because of that, it is difficult for the Legislature to “identify and enumerate the responsibilities [of a committee]…” Tamagna concluded that the issue is going to be that the law designates the towns as having oversight and maintenance responsibilities for cemeteries, although he urged the development of a “process within our county.”
Tamagna said the Rules Committee would look at how a possible Cemetery Committee formed by the Legislature would interact with the towns, also noting that if a committee is formed by the Legislature, members would be appointed by the Legislature. Following additional discussion on situations with specific cemeteries and what the Rules Committee might be able to do, the issue was dropped for resumption in January by the Rules Committee.
In the third example in recent weeks of documents not being received from the County Executive, a report expected by the Health Committee regarding the Recycling Center had not been received from the County Executive’s office. Clearly frustrated, Chairman Oliverio said that because of the recent scandal involving organized crime and the garbage-hauling business and the conviction of Jimmy Galante, he needed to know what would happen to the Center.
Legislator Dan Birmingham said that he would look into the possibility of subpoenaing documents, an option that had been discussed several weeks earlier and that is a legislative prerogative in most counties in the state.
In other business, the Health Committee approved the re-appointment of Anita Schwartz to the Putnam County Coordinating Council for People with Disabilities as well as the re-appointments of Drs. Michael Nesheiwat, Joseph Avanzato, Arthur McCormick and Ms. Carol Weber to the Putnam County Department of Health. They were re-appointed, respectively, to six, one, two and three year terms.
A budgetary amendment was approved transferring funds to be used for services for “persons in need of supervision” and “juvenile delinquents.” Funds were also transferred for the purpose of continuing the vehicle repair program for TANF eligible people from October 1, 2006 through June 30, 2007. Funds were transferred to cover overtime shifts of the road patrol. There was no fiscal impact for any of these actions.
During the brief Protective Services Committee meeting also held that night, the School Resource Officer Program was discussed. Prompted by a letter of concern from Legislator Oliverio, who is the Assistant Principal at the Putnam Valley High School, about the Putnam Valley Middle School no longer being able to participate in the program due to budget constraints, legislators discussed if continuation of the program could be ensured in all Putnam County schools.
Legislator Mike Semo said that his understanding was that the item had been a Federal Congressional Member Item that might be done away with in the new Congress. There also appeared to be no way for assistance through Sheriff Smith because he has “no funding mechanism in his budget, and the County has none in theirs.”
Committee Chairman Terry Intrary said that he would have letters drafted to Senators Clinton and Schumer and to Congressman John Hall asking for assistance. Sheriff Smith said he would assist in any way possible in writing letters or in any grants that might arise.
The Committee also approved the 2007 Stop DWI Plan and approved the re-appointments of Robert Cullen, Al Hosmer and Ronald Cummings to Putnam County’s Traffic Safety Board.
The January meetings of the Rules and the Protective Services Committees will be posted on the PCN&R’s website as soon as they become available.
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